Grandma Jane Taylor thinks that her grandson Alex Gomez is as as cute as they get. He loves to come to Ventura (It’s real hot where he lives). He likes the beach, the train and his “special” restaurant! He is such a cutie! Just turned 5 .

1:45pm, received a report of two persons in the water in the A-Basin. Officers responded and assisted two persons back onto their kayaks.

6:34pm, received a report of a sting ray strike from State Parks Lifeguard at Surfers Knoll. Officers responded, contacted fire dispatch and prepped hot water to treat the injury. Patient was eventually transported to hospital.

7-8

4:15pm, received a dispatch to an unconscious person at 1050 Schooner drive. Officers responded and assisted Ventura fire and AMR with the patient who was eventually transported to local hospital for further evaluation.

7-10

7:20am-3:30pm, observed a 55 gallon barrel with an unknown substance inside. Officers contacted Ventura fire and eventually the Hazmat team was summoned to help determine what was inside the barrel. After an investigation the barrel was determined 99% water but to be safe was taken to a hazardous material deposit at the city yard.

1:43pm, received a report of a stingray strike at Surfers Knoll. Officers responded with hot water to treat the injury. The patient was transported to their local hospital for further evaluation.

7-15

2:30pm, received a report that a fishing vessel was requesting a tow relief and about to enter the harbor. Officers responded and towed the vessel to its slip in Ventura Harbor Village.

5:05pm, received report of a disabled electric boat near the patrol dock. Officers responded and towed the vessel to dreamer rentals.

5:50pm, received a report of a fuel spill near VWM D-dock. Officers responded and found the source of the spill. The owner of the 52ft vessel was contacted and advised he would mitigate the problem.

7:09pm, received a dispatch to a water rescue at the South jetty. Officers responded and searched by boat but were unable to locate the victim. Later, Ventura fire ascertained that the victim had exited the water before our arrival.

10:15pm, received a report of an overdue boater. After a brief investigation the overdue boaters were safely located.

Hello all you chi-chi lovers out there! Sure, at 6 years old I may be close to being a senior, but dog experts everywhere tell me that 6 is the new 4! What do I love, you ask? Well, pretty much everything. I love doggie playgroups, I love your lap. I am a social butterfly with humans. Touch me, leash me, walk me, I love it all! I am a confident little fella and if you want me to learn new things, all you gotta do is bring on the treats! I’ve been here at VCAS about 2 months and the only reason the volunteers and staff can figure out why I am still here is that maybe I am too small to see! Camarillo location 600 Aviation Drive- Glenn Cocoa A639726

Hi: I’m Taz a wonderful 2 year old Australian Cattle Dog / American Staffordshire Terrier X. I’m a little shy when I first meet new people, but once I get to know you I’m super playful, very polite and sweet. I’ll even be a lap dog if you let me. I love the water so I might make a good beach buddy. I’m great with other dogs and older children (I’ve never been around younger ones), but no cats please. Stop by and meet me, I’ll be listening for you. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Mike and Cindy Daly celebrated Ventura’s anniversary by taking Ventura Breeze along with them on their 29th anniversary cruise on the Paul Gauguin. They cruised around the breathtaking Tahitian and Society Islands with their friends Jeff and Begonia Patch.

With regard to the news report of July 5, 2016 in the Ventura County Star, the Ventura voting public needs to keep this news in perspective with how it relates to the citizens of Ventura. This is a City Council that is asking for another $270,000,000 in new taxes to spend anyway they wish.

The City Council approved a 4.50% raise, plus a $1,500 bonus, for police. The City Council also approved a 4.50% raise, plus a $1,500 bonus, for police management. Furthermore, they also approved a 5.25% raise, plus an $800 bonus, for non-public safety employees.

In the private sector, the general public is lucky to receive half this amount as an increase. Raises in the private sector are still running at about 3% or less. If you consider inflation as a baseline, in 2015 inflation was .12% and for 5 months in 2016, inflation is 1.078%.

The City Council is totally out of touch with economic reality and the voters need to relate this to the fact that the City Council is proposing a new 25-year tax. If the City Council cannot say no to spending, the voters in Ventura need to say no to this irresponsible spending. Vote no to an increase in sales taxes.

Robert Alviani-Ventura

Editor:

Today I received my first mailer from the City of Ventura about the ½ cent sales tax they want. This mailer was paid for with our tax dollars, an irony since the city claims we don’t have enough money, which is why they want the sales tax. Of course those who oppose more taxes don’t have a pot of money for fancy mailers (wonder how many potholes could have been fixed for the cost of this one mailer?). We get to write letters to the editor!

Venturans should know that this tax would last for 25 years! 25 YEARS! And while the city has a list of things it says it would spend the money on, there is NO assurance the money would be spent on these things. The annual financial audit and the public review of expenditures would happen AFTER the money is spent. There is no requirement that the city seek approval from anyone before spending the money.

And the “citizens’ oversight committee” will be selected by the city council, so they can stack it with “friendlies” who won’t question their expenditures. The committee would have no authority to assure that the money is spent on the items listed in the city’s mailer. The committee could only make recommendations, which the council can then accept or not. The committee’s lack of power was specifically confirmed at the council meeting where the council voted to put the sales tax measure on the ballot.

I am sure we will be getting more mailers about this. When you get those, think about how much money the city is spending on mailers that could instead be spent on the things we need. And think about whether you want to lock yourself into this tax for the next 25 years.

Alison Carlson-Ventura

We asked the City for a few responses, there will be much more said about this before the November elections for both sides to be heard. These were their comments.

This mailer was paid for with our tax dollars – The informational mailer is to educate residents about the measure that will be put before the voters for their consideration. The City wants to be transparent about the measure and educate residents to make sure they understand what it is and what vital services and programs could be funded with additional local funding.

There will be an Oversight Committee prescribed by the proposed ballot measure which would become law should it be approved by voters. The measure states the committee must include seven individuals who must be Ventura residents. Elected officials are excluded. The committee’s responsibilities are outlined in the proposed measure as well, which can be read here:

http://www.cityofventura.net/files/file/meetings/city_council/2016/July/item%2003%20revised.pdf (the Citizens Oversight Committee is included in the Ordinance; located on page 22 of the report)

Decisions on the financial expenditures of the City are the responsibility of the City’s elected representatives who must conduct budget proceedings in public. Budget documents are also made public and independent audits are conducted annually. The value the Oversight Committee adds to this process in assessing the actual expenditure of the measure’s revenues against how those revenue expenditures were prescribed by the ordinance voters approved.

Comment from Publisher Brown:

The City Council also appoints members to the Planning Commission and the Council frequently disagrees with the Commission’s decisions and reverses them.

Editor:

Breaking Bad? Only time will tell on Brexit. I had just spent a couple of weeks in the U.K. and the whole place was abuzz with would Brexit happen or wouldn’t it? Panic. Fear. My daughter has lived in the UK for five years now and she was furious and sad at the results. I felt on the fence a bit but sad that the vote was so close. So like all artists, my inner thoughts suddenly found themselves going on to canvas. I chose to paint Prime Minister David Cameron”s expression just after he announced that he would step down.

Johanna Spinks

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.~ Mark Twain (1866)

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Arrests

On July 1, at approximately 2pm, patrol officers responded to a call for service regarding a fight involving three males involving possible baseball bats. When officers arrived on scene they found the victim suffering from non-life threatening injuries he sustained after being struck multiple times by a pipe and metal chair. The suspects had fled the scene in their vehicle prior to our arrival, however other responding officers located them on Telephone Road near Main Street.

The investigation revealed the suspects, 43 year old Ventura resident Brian Smith and 21 year old Ventura resident Brian Smith, who are father and son, were involved in a physical fight with each other when the victim, who was not known by the suspects, attempted to intervene. One suspect picked up a metal pipe and began striking the victim multiple times and the other suspect then used a metal chair and struck the victim. At the conclusion of the investigation, both suspects were booked into Ventura County Jail on the charge of assault with a deadly weapon. The victim was treated and released by Ventura Fire and AMR for his injuries.

Bank ATM Skimmer Investigation

On July 8, from approximately 8:40am – 9:15am, VPD patrol officers responded to two separate incidents involving “skimming” devices located attached to ATMs at the Rabobank on E Main St and the Montecito Bank & Trust on Telephone Rd.

These devices can be used to monitor and record personal information such as account numbers and PIN numbers that the suspects will retrieve at a later date. Information obtained is then used to commit identity theft through unlawful access of bank accounts at ATMs.

The two devices were attached by adhesive tape to the outside of the card insert slot. They were removed and will be examined by detectives for any stored information.

The Ventura Police Department would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious persons loitering near or tampering with any ATMs, any suspicious devices attached to an ATM, and to carefully check bank statements for any unusual charges or activity.

It is not known if these two crimes are related and there are no suspect descriptions available at this time.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to call the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit at 339-4325, or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Felony Resisting Arrest

On July 9, at 3:30am, two Ventura Police patrol officers responded to a report of a male subject causing a disturbance within the apartment complex located at 6073 Woodland Street.

Officers arrived on scene and contacted the suspect, 25 year old Oxnard resident Luis Reyes in the center courtyard. Officers determined Reyes had been arguing with his girlfriend, to the front of her apartment, and was now refusing to leave. As officers were attempting to communicate with Reyes, he became further agitated and violently attacked one of the officers. After a brief struggle, the officers were able to take Reyes into custody.

Both officers received minor injuries as a result of the altercation. Both officers were treated at VCMC and several hours later were cleared to return to work. Reyes was also taken to VCMC where he was medically cleared and later booked into Ventura County Jail for violently resisting arrest.

Attempted Murder and Felony Resisting Arrest

On July 9, at approximately 5:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received several 911 calls of two males physically fighting near the corner of Marthas Vineyard Ct. and Pierpont Blvd. While officers were responding it was reported the suspect, later identified as 25 year old Ventura resident Christopher Dolan, got into an awaiting vehicle and fled the scene. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim, a 23-year-old male, lying unconscious on the sidewalk and suffering from several head injuries.

An officer responding to the call saw the suspect vehicle pull into the Vons shopping center parking lot on Harbor Blvd. As the vehicle came to a stop, Dolan exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The officer pursued Dolan on foot, who during the chase turned on the officer and challenged him to fight. When Dolan began charging towards the officer, the officer deployed a taser device. This allowed officers to take him into custody without further incident.

During the investigation, officers learned from witnesses that Dolan was heard in a verbal argument with the victim. Dolan was then seen punching the victim, who fell to the ground. While on the ground, Dolan repeatedly punched and kicked the victim in the head.

The victim was treated at the scene by Ventura City Fire personnel and transported to VCMC for treatment of his injuries. He is currently in critical condition. After being medically cleared at VCMC, Dolan was booked into the Ventura County Jail for attempted murder and felony resisting arrest.

Stabbing

On July 10, at approximately 10pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a stabbing victim of the address listed above. Officers, along with Ventura City Fire and AMR personnel, responded to the call and found the victim, later identified as Shianna Larios, suffering from a single non-life threatening stab wound in the abdomen. She was immediately transported to VCMC for treatment of his injuries. The suspect, 21 year old Faith Komar, was detained at the scene.

During the investigation, officers learned that prior to the stabbing, Larios and Komar got into a verbal altercation over parking in front of Larios’s residence. The argument became physical and during the fight Larios was stabbed by Komar.

Komar was booked at the Ventura County Jail for 245(a)(1) PC Assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488.

Armed Robbery with Arrest

On July 13, at approximately 8:30am, the suspect, 27 year old Ventura resident Shaun Talbutt, entered the business, selected items and concealed them under his jacket. A store employee confronted him, and the suspect pulled out a pocket knife, brandishing it at the employee, and then walked out of the store with the items. Responding patrol officers located the suspect, and he initially ran away from the officer. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect stopped and was taken into custody by officers. At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was booked into Ventura County Jail for armed robbery and resisting arrest. No one was injured during this incident.

Vehicle Pursuit

On July 17, at 1:33pm , the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol requesting assistance on a vehicle pursuit that entered onto the city streets. The CHP had initiated the pursuit several minutes earlier near the intersection of Telephone Rd. and Highway 101 off-ramp, when officers attempted to stop the vehicle to investigate a possible DUI driver. The driver, later identified as Dante Payne (30 years, Ventura Resident ) was failing to stop.

Ventura Police officers took over the pursuit from the California Highway Patrol in the area of Telephone Rd. and Ramelli Ave., as Payne continued to evade officers reaching speeds of approximately 60 MPH. Prior to taking over the pursuit, Payne had driven over a center median, which caused him to lose the right front tire of his Ford pickup. He continued, driving eastbound on Bristol Rd. to northbound Petit Ave. Payne drove to the intersection of Petit Ave. and Petit Ci., where he stopped and exited his vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident.

Officers later learned that Payne discarded a loaded and stolen shotgun out of his vehicle during the pursuit. The shotgun was found by a citizen near the intersection of Ramelli Ave. and Raccoon Ct.

The California Highway Patrol took custody of Payne. He was later booked at the Ventura County Jail for felony evading arrest, felon in possession of a loaded and stolen firearm, possession of an altered weapon and a parole violation.